Stratford-on-Avon

Stratford-on-Avon's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in average age, housing tenure and marriage.

The population passed 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Stratford-on-Avon increased by 8.1%, from about 111,000 to 120,000.

The addition of just over 9,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Stratford-on-Avon was home to, on average, 0.88 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the West Midlands' third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Stratford-on-Avon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Stratford-on-Avon increased by four years, from 42 to 46 years.

This agricultural area had the second-highest average age in the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 5,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 14% of people in Stratford-on-Avon are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Stratford-on-Avon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Stratford-on-Avon that rented privately increased from 9.0% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) households lived in social housing, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage of Stratford-on-Avon households that owner their home decreased from 75% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Stratford-on-Avon increased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stratford-on-Avon, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

This area saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of self-employed people.

Across the region, Sandwell saw the next largest increase in the proportion of self-employed people (from 4.5% in 2001 to 6.0% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of self-employed people, as the regional average grew from 7.4% to 8.5%.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) people aged 16 to 74 in Stratford-on-Avon said they were self-employed, compared with 13% in 2001. The percentage that were employed decreased from 55% to 53%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing relationships in Stratford-on-Avon

The proportion of married people fell in Stratford-on-Avon, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands, except Worcester and Cannock Chase.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 52% to 48%.

During this period, Stratford-on-Avon overtook Lichfield, Bromsgrove and Staffordshire Moorlands to become the West Midlands local authority area with the second-highest percentage of married people.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) people aged 16 and over in Stratford-on-Avon said they were married, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 23% to 26%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Stratford-on-Avon

The number of people in Stratford-on-Avon that described themselves as Muslim increased from about 190 in 2001 to about 280 in 2011. As a share of the total population, the percentage remained close to 0.2%.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from this religious group increased by from 4.1% to 6.7%, while across England the percentage went from 3.2% to 5.2%.

The number of people in Stratford-on-Avon that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 90,000 in 2001 to about 85,000 in 2011 (from 81% to 70%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from about 13,000 to just under 26,000 (from 12% to 21%).

Just under 8,600 people (6.3%) did not state their religion, up from just over 7,000 in 2001 (7.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Muslim in Stratford-on-Avon remained close to 0.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Stratford-on-Avon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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